Subject: North Coast; 20-23 July 2004
Date: Jul 24 00:53:27 2004
From: Charlie Wright - charlie at birdwright.com


Greetings all,
Here is the full report on another trip to the Olympic Coast this week with
Carol Schulz.

< WEDNESDAY, 20 JULY 2004 >

KALALOCH CAMP SEAWATCH (6:25PM-7:35PM):
Green-winged Teal (1f)
Surf Scoter (72)
White-winged Scoter (6)
Pacific Loon (15)-on water
Sooty Shearwater (1485)
Pink-footed Shearwater (1)-7:15pm.
Brown Pelican (9)
Brandt's Cormorant (3)
Pelagic Cormorant (14)-south.
Semipalmated Plover (6)
Sanderling (20)
Parasitic Jaeger (4-6): three observations, perhaps 6 birds; all subad.
Heermann's Gull (260)
California Gull (765)
Black-legged Kittiwake (2)-south.
Caspian Tern (27)
Common Murre (1218)
Rhinoceros Auklet (729)
Tufted Puffin (1)
ALSO IN CAMPGROUND:
Red-breasted Sapsucker (1)
Hutton's Vireo (2)
Wilson's Warbler (1)
Red Crossbill (6)
Evening Grosbeak (2)
----
Raccoon (5)

< THURSDAY, 21 JULY 2004 >

MP 158.5, HIGHWAY 101 (7:35-8:45AM & 11:35AM-12:45PM):
Greater Scaup (10)
Surf Scoter (190)
White-winged Scoter (215)
Common Goldeneye (1)
Red-throated Loon (6)
Pacific Loon (22)
Common Loon (10)
Sooty Shearwater (4)
Brown Pelican (16)
Pelagic Cormorant (17)
Parasitic Jaeger (2)
Ring-billed Gull (20 juv)
California Gull (3200): resting flock of 1800 included 147 juv.
Heermann's Gull (500)
Black-legged Kittiwake (6)
Caspian Tern (25)
Common Murre (420)
Rhinoceros Auklet (1000+)
Western Sandpiper (12)
----
Harbor Porpoise (12)
Sea Otter (2)

KALALOCH LODGE BEACH (9:00-9:45):
Western Grebe (1)
Semipalmated Plover (20)
Sanderling (15)
Western Sandpiper (15)
Greater Yellowlegs (1)
Heermann's Gull (60)
California Gull (50)
Caspian Tern (15)
Common Murre (100)
Rhinoceros Auklet (75)
Tufted Puffin (1)
----
Harbor Porpoise (15)

MP 163.5, HIGHWAY 101 (10:50-11:30):
Greater Scaup (20)
Surf Scoter (275)
White-winged Scoter (350)
Red-throated Loon (3)
Pacific Loon (14)
Brown Pelican (2)
Brandt's Cormorant (13)
Pelagic Cormorant (60)
Common Murre (100)
Rhinoceros Auklet (250)
----
Harbor Porpoise (10)

UNMARKED OVERLOOK--MP 162.8, HWY 101 (12:50-1:05PM):
Surf Scoter (75)
White-winged Scoter (300)
Pacific Loon (14)
Common Loon (9)
Sooty Shearwater (2)
Common Murre (60)
Rhinoceros Auklet (130
Tufted Puffin (1)
----
Harbor Porpoise (28)
Sea Otter (1)

CLALLAM BAY COUNTY PARK (2:45-3:20):
Heermann's Gull (30)
Marbled Murrelet (36)
Tufted Puffin (1)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (10)

SEAL & SAIL ROCKS, OVERLOOK (4:10-4:20):
Harlequin Duck (38)
Pigeon Guillemot (20+)
Tufted Puffin (7)
----
Sea Otter (1)

NEAH BAY (4:30PM):
Greater Yellowlegs (2)-one juv.
Least Sandpiper (12)
California Gull (1000)

< FRIDAY, 23 JULY 2004 >

HOBUCK BEACH, ETC. (4:45pm to next day); birds observed both days:
Red-throated Loon (20)
Common Loon (21)
Turkey Vulture (12)
Semipalmated Plover (16)
Black Oystercatcher (4)
Greater Yellowlegs (3)
Whimbrel (1)
Western Sandpiper (40): around 75% juveniles.
Least Sandpiper (50): 8 juveniles.
Short-billed Dowitcher (7)
LITTLE GULL (1): Closely resembling a 2nd basic individual, the molt
schedule was obviously out of kilter on this bird. The miniscule size was
most noticeable in comparison to RBGU and CAGU. The head pattern with dark
cap and ear spot was distinctive, and there were some flecks of black
throughout the head indicating partial alternate plumage. Legs were dark
blackish-red, bill thin and straight, head rounded. As the bird flew around
we were able to observe patchy black feathering coming in around the center
of the underwings. Flight was choppy and fluttery, more like a Black Tern
than a Bonaparte's Gull, and wings were somewhat more rounded than BOGU. It
clearly lacked any white at the leading edge of the wing. Upperwing was
rather adult-like; there was only a bit of a carpal bar.
Ring-billed Gull (75 juv)
California Gull (2800)
Common Murre (###)
Rhinoceros Auklet (####)
BLACK SWIFT (1): flew over the campsite in early eve.
Rufous Hummingbird (16)-migrating female-types.
Orange-crowned Warbler (12)
Red Crossbill (45)

CAPE FLATTERY (12:00-2:00):
Harlequin Duck (2): one ad. male.
Black Oystercatcher (5)
Black Turnstone (6)
Common Murre (####)
Rhinoceros Auklet (100)
Tufted Puffin (40+)
Hutton's Vireo (4)

That's all for now
cheers and good birding,
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington